Реферат: Progression Towards Light Essay Research Paper Progression

Progression Towards Light Essay, Research Paper

Progression Towards Light

Aeschylus’ use of darkness and light as a consistent image in the

Oresteia depicts a progression from evil to goodness, disorder to order. In the

Oresteia, there exists a situation among mortals which has gotten out of

control; a cycle of death has arisen in the house of Atreus. There also exists

a divine disorder within the story which, as the situation of the mortals, must

be brought to resolution: the Furies, an older generation of gods, are in

conflict with the younger Olympian gods because they have been refused their

ancient right to avenge murders between members of the same family. The

Oresteia presents two parallel conflicts, both of which must be resolved if

harmony is ever to be desired again. As one can expect, these conflicts

eventually do find their resolutions, and the images of darkness and light

accompany this progression, thereby emphasizing the movement from evil to good.

The use of darkness imagery first emerges in the Agamemnon. In this

first play of the trilogy, the cycle of death which began with the murder and

consumption of Thyestes’ children continues with Clytaemestra’s murder of

Agamemnon and Cassandra. The darkness which is present in the beginning of the

story is further magnified by the death of Agamemnon. This is illustrated when

Clytaemestra says, ?Thus he [Agamemnon] went down, and the life struggled out

of him; and as he died he spattered me with the dark red and violent driven

rain of bitter savored blood? (lines 1388-1390). Clytaemestra has evilly and

maliciously murdered her own husband; thus the image of the dark blood. The

darkness is representative of the evil which has permeated the house of Atreus,

and which has persisted with this latest gruesome act of murder. Because

darkness results from the death of Agamemnon, Aeschylus clearly illustrates that

this murder was nothing but pure evil. As long as this type of evil continues

to be practiced in the house of Atreus, darkness will continue to emerge. The

Oresteia has not yet seen the light.

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